System for braking control in a vehicle including a multi-combination vehicle

Abstract

A braking system for the control of vehicle speed, the vehicle including an engine having a first plurality of engine cylinders, an electronic throttle, electrical power source and engine brake adapted to provide engine braking, comprising an electronic control unit in communication with the engine electrical power source, engine throttle and engine brake, and a speed sensor adapted to measure the speed of the vehicle and communicate the measured vehicle speed to the electronic control unit, wherein when the measured vehicle speed is greater than a pre-determined vehicle speed threshold, the electronic control unit disables the engine throttle and applies the engine brake using a second plurality of the engine cylinders, the second plurality of engine cylinders being less than the first plurality of engine cylinders.

1. A braking system for the control of vehicle speed, the vehicle including an engine having a first plurality of engine cylinders, an electronic throttle, electrical power source and engine brake adapted to provide engine braking, the system comprising:
 an electronic control unit, said electronic control unit being in communication with said engine electrical power source, engine throttle and engine brake; and  
 a speed sensor adapted to measure the speed of said vehicle and communicate said measured vehicle speed to said electronic control unit,  
 wherein when said measured vehicle speed is greater than a pre-determined vehicle speed threshold, said electronic control unit disables said engine throttle and applies said engine brake using a second plurality of said engine cylinders, said second plurality of engine cylinders being less than said first plurality of engine cylinders, and  
 wherein when said measured vehicle speed equals said pre-determined vehicle speed, said electronic control unit enables said engine throttle and disengages said engine brake.  
 
   
   
     2. The braking system of  claim 1 , wherein when said measured vehicle speed is less than said pre-determined vehicle speed, said electronic control unit enables said engine throttle and disengages said engine brake. 
   
   
     3. The braking system of  claim 1 , wherein said electronic control unit includes a manual override control, said manual override control being adapted to enable an operator of said vehicle to apply variable engine braking independent of the vehicle speed. 
   
   
     4. The braking system of  claim 3 , wherein said manual override has at least first and second selections. 
   
   
     5. The braking system of  claim 4 , wherein said first selection provides engine braking using a third plurality of engine cylinders, said third plurality of engine cylinders being less than said first plurality of engine cylinders. 
   
   
     6. The braking system of  claim 4 , wherein said second selection provides engine braking using said first plurality of engine cylinders. 
   
   
     7. A braking system for the control of vehicle speed in a multi-combination vehicle having at least two engines that are controlled by a single electronic throttle, each engine being operable to effect engine braking and having a first plurality of engine cylinders, an electrical power source and an engine brake, the system comprising:
 an electronic control unit, said electronic control unit being in communication with at least one of said engines' electrical power source, said electronic throttle and said engine brake of each of said engines; and  
 a speed sensor adapted to measure the speed of said vehicle and communicate said measured vehicle speed to said electronic control unit,  
 wherein when said measured vehicle speed is greater than a pre-determined vehicle speed threshold, said electronic control unit disables said engine throttle and applies at least one of said engine brakes of said engines.  
 
   
   
     8. The braking system of  claim 7 , wherein said multi-combination vehicle includes a powered truck and powered trailer, said powered truck including a first engine and said powered trailer including a second engine, said first and second engines having a first plurality of engines cylinders. 
   
   
     9. The braking system of  claim 8 , wherein said engine braking is provided by said first engine of said powered truck and said second engine of said powered trailer. 
   
   
     10. The braking system of  claim 9 , wherein said engine braking is provided by using said first plurality of engine cylinders of said second engine and a second plurality of engine cylinders of said first engine, said second plurality of engine cylinders being less than said first plurality of engine cylinders. 
   
   
     11. The braking system of  claim 9 , wherein said electronic control unit includes a manual override control, said manual override control being adapted to enable an operator of said vehicle to apply said engine braking independent of the vehicle speed. 
   
   
     12. The braking system of  claim 11 , wherein said manual override control has first and second selections. 
   
   
     13. The braking system of  claim 12 , wherein combined said first and second selections provides said engine braking by using said first plurality of engine cylinders of said second engine. 
   
   
     14. The braking system of  claim 12 , wherein said first selection provides said engine braking using a third plurality of engine cylinders of said first engine, said third plurality of engine cylinders being less than said first plurality of engine cylinders. 
   
   
     15. The braking system of  claim 12 , wherein said second selection provides said engine braking using said first plurality of engine cylinders of said first engine. 
   
   
     16. The braking system of  claim 7 , further including an inclination sensor adapted to measure the vehicle forward inclination and weigh the pre-determined speed at which said engine braking is applied with increasing values of inclination. 
   
   
     17. The braking system of  claim 7 , further including a light sensor adapted to detect ambient light and weigh the pre-determined speed at which said engine braking is applied as a function of ambient light conditions. 
   
   
     18. The braking system of  claim 7 , further including a weight sensor adapted to determine the total weight of at least said powered truck and weigh the pre-determined speed at which said engine braking is applied as a function of said weight of said truck. 
   
   
     19. The braking system of  claim 7 , wherein said pre-determined speed is set at 35 km/h.